Targeted Abuse: Dalit youth and scholar face brutal attacks in caste-based violence

In a shocking series of incidents, India’s entrenched caste system has reared its ugly head, targeting Dalit individuals for allegedly practicing Buddhism, pursuing education, and simply attending school. A Dalit youth was attacked and barred from a temple for embracing Buddhism, while a BHU scholar faced vile casteist abuse. In a separate incident, a school teacher brutally beat a Dalit student with a pipe, highlighting the systemic violence and discrimination faced by marginalized communities. These incidents again expose the dark underbelly of casteism.

Dalit scholar files complaint against professor for casteist slurred in UP

On August 30, Shivam Kumar, a Dalit research scholar at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), has filed a complaint with the National SC/ST Commission after facing casteist harassment and misconduct from a senior professor during an academic meeting on May 30. The incident occurred during Shivam’s viva for upgradation from Junior Research Fellow (JRF) to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) in the Anatomy department of the Ayurveda faculty. According to Shivam, the situation took a turn for the worse when he took a group photo during a refreshment session, which angered the senior professor. 

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The professor allegedly hurled a half-eaten samosa at Shivam and unleashed a barrage of casteist slurs, questioning his manners for taking pictures while someone was eating. This shocking incident highlights the pervasive casteism and discrimination faced by Dalit students in academic institutions.”

Shivam immediately reported the incident to the university administration, including the dean of students. However, no action has been taken so far, prompting him to escalate the matter to the National SC/ST Commission on August 30, reported The Observer Post.

Shiv Sena leader and mob booked for attacking Dalit youth: Thane, Maharashtra

On September 4, A Shiv Sena leader and several other were booked for allegedly attacking a group of people and preventive them from entering a temple, police said on Thursday. According to a police officer, the incident took place during a meeting called by accused former councillor Vikas Repale at a temple in Wagle Estate area late Wednesday night.

The altercation began when the complainant, a 25-year-old Dalit student, and others of the same caste were stopped from entering the temple by Repale, who questioned their presence to their Buddhist faith.

“As per the complainant, who is a 25-year-old Dalit student, he and some others of his caste were stopped from entering the temple for the meeting by Repale. He told them why they should come to a temple when he (complainant) belongs to a different religion (Buddhism). As per the complaint, Repale tried to hit them with a rod while others with him threw slippers,” said a Wagle Estate police station official, reported Times of India.

Dalit School boy beaten up by teacher with pipe: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

As reported in Bharat Samachar on September 8, in Meerut, UP, an innocent student was brutally beaten by a teacher with a pipe. The teacher also used caste-based slurred. When the family of the Dalit student complained, the teacher threatened him and sent him away. 

The incident is of Rali Chauhan Higher Primary School. In this government school, teacher Vivek Singh brutally beat a Dalit student. It is being reported that the innocent child kept screaming, but the merciless teacher kept beating him with the pipe. When the student reached home, he told the whole incident to his family members and showed the wounds of beating on his body.

However, the student’s family lodged a complaint at the police station, but the case has not been registered.

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